Fish cutting machine



Dec.'20, 1938. E. DAVID ET AL FISH CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1:9156 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TORS Eo WA R o .DA wo B/'TEPHEN B. Szooy AT NEY l* Dec. 20, 1938. E DAvlD ET AL 2,140,575

FISH CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 IN VEN TORS Eo WARD .DA vlo .S'rspHtN B. S'zoo Y Mn/mmgn A TTORN Dec. 20, 1938. E. DAVID ET AL FISH CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 55 INVENTORS. EDWARD .DA wo Riv-:Pneu B. SzoaK can/Vx A TTOR Y Patented De.2o,193s

PATENT OFFICE msn como MACHINE Edward lDavid, Carmel, and Stephen lLSlody,

' Seaside, (Jalii'. v

- Application September 5, 1936, Serial No. 99,570

This invention rpertains to ilsh cutting machines and has for one of its objects the provision of means for the cutting of llets from iish which have undergone prelim'inary preparation by other mechanical devices or manual process.

' yIn particular this invention relates to a machine which is adapted to slice select and boneless cuts of meat from iish preparatory to the canning processes. In these respects it is disl0 otherwise prepare whole sh for canning.

` While in the following description reference will be made to the treatment of Monterey sardines, or pilchards, as they are sometimes termed,`

it will be appreciated that the invention forming thesubject matter of Athe present application may be modied and adjusted for use with other sizes and varieties of fish without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be appreciated that while the present machine has been developed and -designed primarily for use as a part of equipment used in the preparation of fish for canning, the principle of the same may nevertheless be readily adapted for ordinary commercial use. As for example, where in the handling of fish it is desired to cut illlets rapidly and economically for sale.

The fish introduced into this machine have theretofore had their heads, tails and viscera removed manually or by other apparatus. In the case of smaller fish, such as the sardines previously mentioned, the whole cleaned and trimmed fish is conveyed into the device. On the other hand, where larger fish are to be handled, it has been found both economical and expedient to cut the fish transversely into convenient lengths.

In order that the objects of the invention may be fully understood it may be said that the fillet Ldesired to be cut from the sh lies in that portion of the fish defined by an imaginary line drawn from the pectoral fin 'to the tail or caudal iin, passing slightly above the ventral and anal fins, and from thence forwardly, passing inside the Ysecond dorsal and first dorsal fins to a point above the pectoral fin. This section embraces the nnest flesh of the iish and excludes the tough, gristly meat found in the belly and iinny sections. In the present machine these fillets are cut longitudinally both from lengths of the larger fish and the whole of thelsmaller sh. y In general the present invention comprises a pair of rotary knives pitched at an angle to each other, a conveyor passing under the knives, and a. pair of endless belts disposed above the con- 55 veyor, adapted to engage the sh and align them c tinguishable from those machines which cut and (cl. 1194) r for the cutting operation. In addition, we have provided n'ovel guide means to work with the knives to insure the making of the desired cuts in the iish being handled.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fish cutting-machine of simplied construction which works eiiiciently and yet has great capacity at extremely high speeds. l

Other objects of the invention will becom apparent asthis specification proceeds and the novelty thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cutting machine embodying the subjectI matter of the invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view `showing a fish during the cutting operation,

Figure 3 is another top plan view with certain of the parts shown in section, the latter being taken along-line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 411s a sectional view along line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is longitudinal section of the machine, particular emphasis being laid on the guide means associated with thev knives,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary end `view of the knives, similar to Figure 4, and

Figure '7 is a perspective of the lowermost guide means associated with the knives.

One of the most vexatious problems in this art has been the provision of efilcient means for aligning the fish with the cutting members so that the slices are uniform and waste of the valuable meats is avoided.

It is believed that in the present invention a solution to the problem will be found embodied in a device of relatively simple construction.

A frame i0, consisting of longitudinally extending channel irons Il, and legs i2, supports the device of this invention.

The ilsh are moved into the cutting operation on the endless conveyor i3 which comprises a chain I4 having a series-of slotted members i5 secured thereto in an end to end arrangement to form an articulated conveyor means. In Figure 4 the particular shape of the members I5 will be noted. Each has a pair of outwardly extending flat portions I6 bent ,downwardly at complementary angles, as at ll, and then into straight walls I8 to the point of juncture with the base plate I9, by which they are connected to the links of chain il'. Y

In this way the fish are'supported largely by being wedged in the slots formed by, the angles I1 and walls I8, and the cutting means 'are permitted to pass through the fish and into the bottom of the slot between walls I8.

The chain I4 of conveyor I3 is engaged by a sprocket (not shown) mounted on shaft 20, jour# naled' in channel irons Il at the discharge end of the machine. A pair of tracks 2| support the conveyor as it moves the sh throughout the length of the machine.

Conveyor I3 is driven by a motor 212 mounted on the upper frame 23 secured to frame I0.

The transmission of this power is accomplished through the medium of 'a speed reducer 24havingv a driving connection with shaft 28,'consisting in chain 25 and sprockets 26 and-V21, respectively. Bevel gear 29 on shaft 28 meshes with gear onlshaftl 2U,4 rotating the latter to drive conveyor I3.

Knives which effect the longitudinal slicing l of the fish to obtain the desired cuts are mounted v A y y wardly around pulleys 41 and terminate in the directly on the shafts 36 of motors 31 (see Figure 4). Motors 31 are secured to tables`39 and the latter are attached-tov frame I0, the connection illustrated in'Figure 4 consisting in bolted attachment to the upper edges of channel irons II. v

As will be noted in Figure'4 of the drawings knives 35 have externally beveled edges 40 and are pitched at complementary angles to each other to define a wedge, the lower arcs of the blades passing through the slots in members I5 on conveyor I3. l

In order to align the fish on conveyor I3 as they approach knives 35, there is provided a pair of spaced endless guide belts 45 running directly above conveyor I3 to a point under the edge of knives 35. It is the function of these belts to engage the sides of the fish and insure that the latter are centered in slots in members I5 on conveyor I3 as fed into knives 35 by the conveyor I3.

The belts 45 are mounted on pulleys 46 and 41, the former being positioned nearest the intake end of the machine and the latter adjacent the cutting edges of knives 35. Pulleys 46 are mounted on stub shafts 48 journaled in brackets 49 attached to the upper surface of channel irons I I. Pulleys 41, on the other hand, are dependent from the ends of arms 50 pivotally mounted on the brackets 5I on channel irons II.

As a means of constantly centering the discharge ends of guide belts 45 with respect to the conveyor I3 and knives 35, there is provided the connection between arms 50 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. A pair of links 52 and 53 are Vcrossed between and pinned to the arms 50, in-each instance as at 54 and 55, on either side ofthe pivotal connection of arms 50 to brackets 5I 1A spring 56, connected at one end .to one of the (pins 55 and at the other to screw 51 having a threaded connection with the opposite pin 55, provides the necessary tension between the discharge endsof guide belts sufficient to firmly engage the fish as fed into knives 35. Screw 51 convstitu'tes a simple means for controlling the pres- `r-sure exerted by the belts 45 at the discharge end to accommodate fish of various sizes.

Idler pulleys 58 are mounted on stub shafts 62 afxe'digvto th arms 59, which have dependent pivotal connection with brackets 5I, to tighten guide .belts 45. The interconnected tensioning means between pulleys 58 comprises a spring 60 attached at each of its ends to one of the screws 6I having threaded connection with stub shafts 82, a nut 63, in each instance locking the adjustment.

Guide belts 45 are driven in timed speed and directional relation with conveyor I3 by means of the helical gears 64 and 65, the former being keyed to shafts 48 and the latter to shaft 66 suitably journaled in channel iron II. It is to be appreciated` that any source of power will satisfactorily'drive vthe belts 45 through the transmission means just described. Here is shown a driving connection between chain I4vand shaft 66, consisting in a sprocket 61' keyed to the latter and engaging the former to'provide-identlty r of relation in direction and speed between con-r veyor I3 and belts 45 (see Figs. l andA2).

Cooperating with the belts 45 to'center the fish as 'they' enter the .knives 40, there is provided a pair of fingers 15, pivotally meuntedon oppo'# I site sides of frame "tI-onthev upper surfaces of channel irons II. (See Figs. v2 and 3). It will be noted that these fingers 15 arefcurved in'- flat sh engagingends 16. Each is provided with a coil spring 1 1 to urge it inwardly to the point of contact with the iish. Set screws 18, extending through upright members 19 secured to channel irons II, act as stops *to define the inward movefrom belts `45 to knives. 35, In this manner a more careful feed of the -flsh is assured, a desirable factor considering the stated purpose of this machine. v

In cutting sh, particularly at high speeds, it is deemed essential to provide means toA obtain a shearing of the flesh rather a pressure cut and thus avoid injury to the flesh as well as spoiling the appearance of the final product. For example: When the sh are placed in the upper or wider portion of the slots in members I5 and moved into knives 35, the latter, rotating in a clockwise direction (looking at Figs. l and 5), or opposite to that of the feed of conveyor I3, there is a definite tendency of the knives to drive the sh downwardly into the lower and narrower portion of the slots in members I5. In so doing the sh would be mashed, cut unevenly and the long section would become wedged in the slot and difcult to remove.

To meet this tendency, upper guide 83 and lower guide 84 are placed between the knives 35 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5). Both of these guides are mounted on the frame member 85, guide 83 being attached to the cross bar 86 and lower guide 84 being secured to cross bar 81.

By referring to Figures 5 and 6 it will be seen that guide member 84 extends downwardly toward the forward or cutting edge of knives 35, tapering to meet the pitch of the knives at substantially the juncture of the upper and lower slots in members I5. From this point a toe 88 is bent outwardly on a horizontal plane to ride in lower portion of the slot in the members I5, slightly clear of bottom.

'Ihe toe 88 of guide members 84 slides under the oncoming sh to insure movement of the medial or bony portion thereof up the incline of guide 84, as well as to prevent the i'lsh becoming wedged in the slot in members I5. Due to the nearly infinitesimal clearance between guide 84 and knives 35, and the angle of the latter, a shearing action is produced on the fish by the coaction of these elements,-making a clean cut of bothgthe skin andk fiesh'. 4

As the cutting is completed, the backbone section of the fish travels upthe incline of guide member, between knives to be discharged in any convenient manner for disposal. vThe fillets. on the other hand, fall to either side of the knives 35 onto the fiat sections of members I5, to be subsequently discharged Afrom the conveyor for delivery to processing equipment. Upper guide Il, also tapered to compensate for the pitch of vknives 40, is adapted to prevent the backbone sec.-

tions of the fish from being thrown; about by the centrifugal force of the knives and the free en d thereof, being bent downwardly in a vertical plane directly above the shearing area formed by knives and guide 84, prevents fish from being raised from the latter during the cutting operation.

In operation the fish, either whole or cut into convenient lengths, are fed onto conveyor i3. As they progress they comek between belts for alignment both as to position on conveyor I3 and as to knives 35; The distance between the vends of belts 45, as they pass over pulleys 41, is suf ficient to pass iish of a predetermined size and yet whenv a slightly off-sized fish is encountered, the spring 56 will allow immediate adjustment of the beltsto avoid congestion or damage to the fish.

As the fish pass from belts 45 they are contacted by fingers 15 and introduced into knives 35 in proper alignment. The bony or medial section of the fish slides over toe 88 on guide 84, andthe fish moves into the cutting operation. The fillets are separated from the undesirable 4bony section by the combined action of knives 35 and guide. and fall on the flat sections of members l5. lThe remainder of the fish passes between knives 35 over the incline of guide 84.

While the respective discharging of the desired andundesired portions of the flsh from the machine forms no part of this invention, other than as stated, itis appreciated that many conventional means are available.k For example, the common practice is to provide separate `chutes leading to flumes adapted to carry the discharge to' other processing equipment and the reduction plant, respectively.

It will be appreciated that although onlyone form of the invention has been here illustrated and described, the principle is subject to many changes and modifications, and therefore there is no ldesire to limit the scope of the invention to that form specified herein, but only to the extent f of the prior art and the spirit of the appended claims.

The following is claimed:

1. In a fish cutting machine, rotary knives for cutting the fish longitudinally, a conveyor passing under said rotary knives, said conveyor having a longitudinally extending slot to accommodate the cutting edge of said knives, and a pair of spaced endless belts disposed above said conveyor but ting the fish longitudinally, means for conveying the fish through the cutting means on a horizontal plane, means superposed above said conveying means for aligning the fish on the latter with reting the fish longitudinally, means for conveyf ing the fish through the cutting means on a horizontal plane, means superposed above said conveying means for aligning the fish on the latter with respect to saidcutting means, and means disposed in said cutting means and cooperating therewith and with said conveying means to insure proper introduction of the fish and to produce a shearing action during the cutting operation.

5. Ina fish cutting machine, a pair of rotary knives for cutting then fish longitudinally, a conveyor passing under said rotary knives on a horizontal plane, said conveyer having a longitudinally extending slot to accommodate the cutting edges of said knives, guide means disposed between said knives, said guide means having an extension adapted to ride in the slot in said conveyor and coact with said knives to produce a shearing action.

6. In a fish cutting machine, a pair of rotary knives for cutting the fish longitudinally, a conveyor passing under said rotary knives on a horizontal plane, said conveyor having a longitudinally extending slot to accommodate the cutting edge of the knives, a guide between said rotary knives having an extension adapted to ride in the slot in said conveyor, said guide and the extension thereof and said knives co-acting to produce a shearing action. y

7. In a fish cutting machine, a pair of rotary knives for cutting the fish longitudinally, a conveyor passing under said rotary knives on a horizontal plane, said conveyor having a longitudinally extending slot to accommodate the cutting edge of the knives, a guide between said rotary knives having an extension adapted to ride in the slot in said conveyor, said guide and the extension thereof` and said knives co-acting to produce a shearing action, and alignment means superposed above said conveyor.

8. In a fish cutting machine, a pair of longitudinal cutters having a complementary pitch to define a wedge cut on a horizontal plane, conveyor means for causing fish to pass through said cutters, and means co-acting with said cutters to produce a shearing action during the cutting operation.

9. In a machine adaptedv to cut fillets from a fish, a pair ofcutters pitched at opposite angles to define a wedge cut, means for causing the fish to pass through said cutters, and upper and lower guide means, said lower guide means co-acting with said cutters to produce a shearing action during the cutting operation, and said upper guide means co-acting with said cutters and said lower guide means to restrict vertical movement of the middle section of the fish in the cutting operation.

10. In a machine adapted to cut llets from a fish, a pair of cutters pitched at opposite angles to define a wedge cut, means for causing the fish vto pass through said cutters, alignment means cooperating therewith, and upper and lower guide means between said cutters, said lower guide means co-acting with said cutters to-produce a ceiving slot below said groove, endless guide means disposed on either side of said conveyor with their discharge ends at substantially the edges of said cutters, and auxiliary fish guiding means positioned between said cutters and said endless guide means.

12. In a machine adapted to cut fillets from a sh, the combination of a pair of rotary cutters pitched at opposite angles to define' a wedge cut, endless conveyor means for causing the sh to pass through said cutters on a horizontal plane, said conveyor means having a longitudinal fish receiving groove therein and av cutter edge receiving slot below said groove, endless guide means disposed on either side of said conveyor with their discharge ends at substantially the edges of said cutters, and yieldable auxiliary fish guiding means positioned between said cutters and said auxiliary guide means.

13. In a machine adapted to cut fillets from a fish, the combination of a. pair of rotaryl cutters pitched at opposite angles to define a wedge cut, endless conveyor means for causing the fish to pass through said cutters on a horizontal plane, said conveyor means having a longitudinal fish receiving groove therein and a cutter edge receiving slot below said groove, endless guide means disposed on either side of said conveyor with their discharge ends at substantially the edges of said cutters, and a pair of fish positioning fingers having their ends disPOsed between said cutters and said endless guide means.

14. In a machine adapted to cut fillets from a fish, the combination of a pair of rotary cutters pitched at opposite angles to deiine a wedge cut, endless conveyor means for causing the fish to pass through said cutters on a horizontal plane, said conveyor means having a longitudinal fish receiving groove therein and a cutter edge receiving slot below said groove, endless guide means disposed ori-either side of said conveyor with their discharge ends at substantially the edges of said cutters, and a pair of yieldable iish positioning fingers having their ends disposed between. said cutters and said endless guide means.

15. In a machine adapted to cut fillets from a iish, the combination of a pair of rotary cutters pitched at opposite angles to dene a wedge cut, endless conveyor means for causing the fish to pass through said cutters on a horizontal plane, said conveyor means having a longitudinal fish receiving groove therein and a cutter edge receiving slot between said groove, endless guide means disposed on either side of said conveyor with their discharge ends at substantially the edges of said cutters, auxiliary fish guiding means positioned between said cutters and said endless guide means, upper and lower guide means disposed between said cutters, said lower guide means coacting with said cutters to produce a shearing actionA` during the cutting operation, and said upper guide means coacting with said cutters: and said lower guide means to restrict vertical moveendless conveyor means for causing the fish tok pass through said cutters on a horizontal plane, said conveyor means having a longitudinal iish receiving groove therein and a cutter edge receiving slot between said groove, endless guide means disposed on either side of said conveyor with their discharge ends at substantially the edges of said cutters, auxiliary fish guiding means positioned between said cutters and said endless guide means, and a guide member between-said cutters having an extension adapted to ride in the slot in said conveyor.

17. In a machine adapted to cut fillets from a fish, the combination of a pair of rotary cutters pitched at opposite angles to define a wedge out, endless conveyor means for causing the iish to pass through said cutters on a horizontal plane, said conveyor means having a longitudinal fish receiving groove therein and a cutter edge receiving slot between said groove, endless guide means disposed on either side of said conveyor with their discharge ends at substantially the edges of said cutters, auxiliary fish guiding means4 positioned between said cutters and said endless guide means, and a guide member between said cutters having an extension adapted to ride in the slot in said conveyor said guide member coacting with said cutters to produce a shearing action.

18. In a machine adapted to cut fillets from a fish, the combination of a pair of rotary cutters pitched at opposite angles to define a wedge cut, endless conveyor means for causing the fish to pass through said cutters on a horizontal plane, said conveyor means having a longitudinal fish receiving groove therein and a cutter edge receiving slot between said groove, endless guide means disposed on either side of said conveyor with their discharge ends at substantially the edges of said cutters, auxiliary fish guiding means positioned between said cutters and said endless guide means. and a guide member disposed between said cutters having a toe. piece in the slot in said endless conveyor.

19. In a machine adapted to cut fillets from a sh, the combination of a' pair of rotary cutters pitched at opposite angles to dene a wedge cut, endless conveyor means for causing the fish to pass through said cutters on a horizontal plane, said conveyor means having a longitudinal fish receiving groove therein and a cutter edge receiving slot between said groove, endless guidel means disposed on either .side of said conveyorwith their discharge ends at substantially the edges of said cutters, auxiliary fish guiding means positioned between said cutters and said endless guide means, and a guide member between said cutters having a toe piece riding in the slot inv said endless conveyor to engage fish in the grove therein and coacting 'with said knives to produce a shearing action during the cutting operation.

20. In a machine adapted to cut llets from a fish, a pair of cutters pitched at opposite angles to define a wedge cut, means for causing the fish to pass through said cutters, alignment means cooperating therewith, and a guide member between said cutters coacting with the latter to produce a shearing action during the cutting operation.

21. In a machine adapted to cut fillets from a fish, a pair of cutters pitched at opposite angles to dene a wedge cut, means for causing the sh to pass through said cutters, yand. a guide member between said cutters coacting with the latter to produce a shearing action during the cutf ting operation.

22. In a machine adapted to cut fillets from a sh, a pair oi' cutters pitched at opposite angles to denne a wedge cut, and a guide member bev tween said cutters coasting with the latter to produce a shearing action during the cutting operation.

EDWARD DAVID.

' STEPHEN B. SZODY. 

